SA plot another crash course for Indian batsmen

South Africa came prepared for the tribulations of taking on India in India. They plotted minutely, stuck to the plan faithfully and carried off magnificently the execution of the Indian batting line-up. The clinical dissection was, if anything, sheer breathtaking.

The Proteas’ plan was amazingly simple. Unlike visiting teams of the past, they did not try to match India spinner for spinner. Instead, they stuck to their strength: the battery of pacemen backed by athletic fielders.

These they modified to suit Indian conditions. Acknowledging that tearaway quickies seldom come good in the subcontinent, their pacemen banked on frustrating the Indian batsmen with total length and outside the line of the off stump bowling. They nagged away and hardly offered a single over-pitched delivery right through the day. These tactics and the effective short bursts of electrifying pace bowling by Mornantau Hayward completely bamboozled the Indian batsmen.

That India finally came away from a bruising day one with some semblance of hope was largely due to the lion-hearted efforts of Anil Kumble.

The tall right-hander top scored with an unbeaten 36 that was marked by a display of pluck and determination. His innings took India to a first innings total of 158, plenty more than looked possible at one stage. Later, with the South Africans having to bat just five overs to end play on an extended first day, Kumble trapped Herschelle Gibbs in front.

Earlier, this morning, skipper Sachin Tendulkar did India a great favour by winning the toss. Make-shift opener Rahul Dravid and Wasim Jaffer shaped up quite well, piecing together 29 runs (it later turned out to be the best partnership of the innings). But after this the team faded rapidly.

In fact, the 42 runs that India notched up in the first hour of play was the best run-rate of the day. However before things got out of hand for South Africa, skipper Hansie Cronje quickly tightened the screws with a semi-defensive field. His bowlers stuck to a restrictive length and then came Operation Prise Out.

After Jaffer (13) was snared behind and Saurav Ganguly (1) trapped in front even as he played from the crease, Tendulkar and Dravid plodded painfully to bring the innings to a total standstill. Their partnership not only failed to put runs on the board, but also allowed the Proteas to gain the upper hand.

From then on India went hurtling on disaster street.

Dravid (17 in 122 mins) seemed to have got an inside edge to a Cronje off cutter to be caught behind while Tendulkar, attempting to pull a short-pitched delivery from outside the line of the off stump found the ball hasten on him. He mistimed the pull and ballooned a catch to mid-off. His 21 came in 120 minutes and was symptomatic of India’s efforts on the day.

Mohammed Azharuddin who was given a standing ovation on his way to the wicket, hardly inspired confidence. He came up with a lovely drive off Allan Donald, but fended the resultant bouncer to be caught in the gully. Mohammed Kaif (12; 68 mins) looked relatively sound before he played half-cock to Jacques Kallis and was given out.

Nayan Mongia (20, 79 mins) batted positively for a while until a wholly negative padding up to left arm Nicky Boje terminated his innings.

Cronje’s swift bowling changes had the desired effect as all the South Africans who bowled today (Lance Klusner was not used) were rewarded.

India, on the morrow, have a herculean task. They must ensure that the visitors do not get the lead, at least a huge one. The pitch will favour the spinners. But the quality of support for Kumble will hold the key to the day’s play.

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st innings)
Wasim Jaffer c Boucher b Hayward (36b, 45m, 2 fours) 13
Rahul Dravid c Boucher b Cronje (75b, 112m, 2 fours) 17
Saurav Ganguly lbw Pollock (3b, 3m) 1
Sachin Tendulkar c Cronje b Hayward (76b, 120m, 3 fours) 21
Mohd Azharuddin c Klusener b Donald (33b, 38m 1 four) 9
Mohd Kaif lbw Kallis (41b, 68m, 1 four) 12
Nayan Mongia lbw Boje (61b, 79m, 2 fours) 20
Anil Kumble not out (95b, 123m, 4 fours) 36
Nikhil Chopra c Pollock b Boje (52b, 57m) 4
Murali Karthik run out (5b, 7m) 0
Javagal Srinath c Gibbs b Pollock 4
Extras: (8b, 8lb, 5nb) 21
Total: (all out in 82.3 overs, 347 mins) 158
Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Jaffer), 2-30 (Ganguly), 3-58 (Dravid), 4-69 (Azhar), 5-77 (Tendulkar), 6-104 (Kaif), 7-114 (Mongia), 8-138 (Chopra), 9-139 (Murali)

Bowling: Donald 14-2-31-1, Pollock 17.3-5-26-2, Hayward 15-2-40-2, Cronje 12-6-17-1, Kallis 9-5-18-1, Boje 15-7-10-2

South Africa (1st innings)
Gary Kirstan batting (16b, 20m, 16b, 1 four) 5
Herschelle Gibbs lbw Kumble (12b, 16m, 1 four) 4
Nicky Boje batting (3m, 4b) 0
Extras: (2nb) 2
Total (for 1 in 5 overs, 20m) 11
Fall of wicket: 1-10

Bowling: Srinath 2-0-6-0, Kumble 2-1-4-1, Chopra 1-0-1-0